My grandmother and I hugged and asked each other the same question we always ask at these things, these family cookouts, Christmas parties, get-togethers. How’s life? She asked first, and so I let loose the usual Oh, busy, busy, busy, diapers, portrait sessions, kids in my hair,… Read More
All posts by “Simply Mella”
Please
Here’s a (not so big) secret about me: I cannot say no. Unless you are under five feet tall and either directly descended from me or placed in my care for babysitting – I will find a way to give you whatever you ask for.… Read More
Letters To My Daughters: Hands
Dear Lila: When I die, I want to be holding my two special quarters and be buried with them. And Fluffy Unicorn. And your hands. You said this to me today. It was mid-bath, while I rigorously scrubbed frothy peppermint shampoo in your head. Shampoo… Read More
Lights
I’ve been stopped a lot in the past couple of years. Stopped, as in, pulled over for a reason other than an expired inspection ticket. And a lot, meaning, three times. I’m thirty-four, and this is the most I have ever seen flashing lights in… Read More
Settling In
I wrote this six years ago, in the fall of 2007 when it was just Alex and Lila: He’s pushing trucks around the house, hiding in duffle bags, zooming over the arms of the sofa, making squealing noises as they try to stop before diving… Read More
This
This is parenthood. This is motherhood. This, right here, this moment I’m having in the three AM of my soul. This aching, stretching, bending, breaking. This impossible desire to do everything just so. So he won’t question himself. So she won’t run wild. So he… Read More
Two Cents
While away on vacation I was blissfully unaware of the brouhaha over the whole Miley Cyrus VMA performance. (Truthfully, I would have been nearly as blissfully unaware of her performance had I actually been home anyway, as I don’t generally watch the VMAs.) But now… Read More
Boom
So, this arrived today. With it came a sense of relief, of happiness in finally being officially settled into this decision. After months of talking the talk, we’re now on the books. Which means, of course, we have to walk the walk. We’ve been blessed… Read More
How to Talk To My Children About What I Want My Children To Know About What They Need To Know About What I Want Them To Know. (You Know?)
It rained this morning (story of the this summer, I’m afraid.) Lila came in from the street, where I called her back from circling the brown murky puddles. Don’t go jumping in the puddles today, please. I said to her. But I’m not. I’m just… Read More
In The Overflow
It’s a feeling, really. Nothing more. It’s the unease of highway driving in a deluge, it’s the inability to see the lines on the road through the watery windshield. It’s guiding yourself only by the blurred taillights of the cars up ahead and wondering how… Read More